Posted on Apr 19, 2017
Why are officers recognized with awards more than enlisted?
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It seems to me that officers are recogized far more often then enlisted soldiers. I mean an officer and junior enlisted could do the same exact thing, or an enlisted could do more then an officer and chances are the officer will be given a higher award. Why? I have been in for almost 8 years and only have 1 AAM which is my only actual award.
Awards
Officers
Enlisted
Recognition
Fairness
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 577
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How do you get an award that you felt should have gotten but know retired for 4 yrs
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My chest is full of ribbons & medals. Some wanted, some deserved.
Nevertheless, I never looked for none nor cried about any...
DO YOUR FUCKIN DUTY NCO & YOU WILL WIN!
Nevertheless, I never looked for none nor cried about any...
DO YOUR FUCKIN DUTY NCO & YOU WILL WIN!
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Too much candy passed out for very little on all sides of the fence. Just saying.
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Sometimes it's better to just do the best you possibly can at all tasks given you. Being in the limelight is not always the best thing awards are nice but at the end of the day do you want to be that LT wanted to get noticed by a Star and asked a question he as no clue about are just be for closing your eyes at night thinking you did right by your troops. Always remember Mission, Men, Me
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1SG Jeffrey Mullett
As a senior NCO, I can tell you that what you said is absolutely correct. That is why I will retire with 32 years at E7.
I was promoted to E7 in 1999. I have worked hard and supported two deployments under 2 different units, with a deployment roll up on a third, and a near miss to Afghanistan. I was a 1SG as an E7 during my first deployment...I've always put my Soldiers first, and hoped my superiors would notice the work I was doing. My immediate commanders noticed, but politics got in the way at higher levels. Either stupidity, ignorance or straight up self-importance, caused issues with forward momentum for several people associated with some of the officers I was assigned to.
I would do it again in a minute. Would I do anything differently? No. My unit and my mission came first. Every unit I was assigned to, excelled. That will have to be the reward I will always remember. The fact that I was recommended for three MSM, and a Bronze Star (though I did not receive them) is a reward in and of itself. Two of the MSM were downgraded to ARCOM and the third was not processed correctly, and I have never been able to get support on processing it since. The Bronze Star was downgraded as well, because I was a Detachment 1SG, and not a Company 1SG in a War Zone.
I was promoted to E7 in 1999. I have worked hard and supported two deployments under 2 different units, with a deployment roll up on a third, and a near miss to Afghanistan. I was a 1SG as an E7 during my first deployment...I've always put my Soldiers first, and hoped my superiors would notice the work I was doing. My immediate commanders noticed, but politics got in the way at higher levels. Either stupidity, ignorance or straight up self-importance, caused issues with forward momentum for several people associated with some of the officers I was assigned to.
I would do it again in a minute. Would I do anything differently? No. My unit and my mission came first. Every unit I was assigned to, excelled. That will have to be the reward I will always remember. The fact that I was recommended for three MSM, and a Bronze Star (though I did not receive them) is a reward in and of itself. Two of the MSM were downgraded to ARCOM and the third was not processed correctly, and I have never been able to get support on processing it since. The Bronze Star was downgraded as well, because I was a Detachment 1SG, and not a Company 1SG in a War Zone.
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I think the Army Awards system really is a right place at the right time and observed by many type deal. Hard to do these balancing exercises, in my view. Bottom line is you know what you did or didn't do during your enlistment and that really should be enough. A lot of the WWII awards were blanket awards, some of the Vietnam era ones were, along with the first Gulf War. Can't speak for post 2000 too much because I was long seperated by that time and out of touch with most GWOT Veterans. I would be surprised though if we did not find out later that some of the GWOT awards were not blanket awards. I only have one AAM and I served during peacetime, it was a hard earned AAM though and I am proud of it. I don't care that I didn't get another one all that much. I don't even care I never earned a CIB or never served in a war zone because lots of BS behind earning a CIB or serving in a war zone. Once you earn a CIB it becomes a contest to see whose CIB was earned under more difficult terms and that BS goes on and on the rest of your life. I can live without going through that the rest of my life. Congrats to those that have a CIB but I don't miss not having one and kind of have sympathy for those that did earn one. Wearing it is not burden free.
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Good question. I suppose one answer would be, junior officers are easily distracted by shiny , colorfull, objects, and it keeps them amused. I found in my years that far too much emphasis has been placed on decorations. Don't get me wrong, meritorious behavior should be recognised, but in many a formation I listened to citations being read out, so noting that awardee so and so, showed up on time, carried out his duties, and didn't kill himself or anyone in the process. Bang here's your medal. Meritorious/Valorous conduct must be recognised. In the same light awards should not be used a gauge, i.e. This NCO/Officer should have "x" number of decorations by the time they reach "y" rank. Why do O's get more than E's?? Good question. I would start with it is incumbent on SNCO's to counsel their junior officers on the awards process, and the importance with recognizing deserving individuals.
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Sometimes I wonder if we have too many awards. A soldier graduating from Advanced Individual Training could in theory leave the course with up to three awards (two medals and a ribbon, Army Achievement, National Defense Service and Army Service Ribbon). There seems to be a train of thought in the military today that is supportive of making sure that troops (at least in the Army) get recognized with an award and that no one is left out. Apparently this train of thought is tied in with perceptions that the awards support the morale of the troops. It also seems to be tied in with the belief in civilian circles that everyone needs to be recognized for their participation.
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1. It's the level of responsibility. I can guarantee you that a SPC and a 2LT aren't doing the "same" things.
2. You have been in for 8 years and have one AAM? Either you have worked for the worst leadership ever or there is more to the story that you are not telling us.
2. You have been in for 8 years and have one AAM? Either you have worked for the worst leadership ever or there is more to the story that you are not telling us.
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I can't answer the "why" to your question, but if I may make a suggestion...There are a great number of awesome folks in here that are Active Duty enlisted and I bet most would be willing to lend some mentoring advice and help you understand the process and possibly some avenues to succeed. CSM (Join to see), 1SG (Join to see), 1SG Steven Stankovich, SGM Erik Marquez, SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4", 1SG Cameron M. Wesson, 1SG Henry Yates, and SSG Pete Oneill. These are just a handful of fine soldiers I know. Good luck to you.
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